OVHA Chat

I found these guys while looking for a thermowell. Check out their stir plate.

http://www.stirplates.com/

That stirplate is awesome Dwayne ... I have a homemade one and I know I spent more than that for parts.

Interesting way to clean/sanitize a case of empties at a time:
http://web.me.com/keithds/pictures/BottleRack.html

Here is a nice analog temperature controller for your fridge(or whatever). It is cheaper and has a higher amperage rating than the common Johnson controller. It will also control heat or cool with a simple mod.(instructions included)

http://kkontrols.com/pothwse.html

Found this online:
http://onebeer.net/minitap_howto.shtml


I may have to upgrade the nipples on the ol jugs to one of these.

Nipples ... jugs ... <snicker>

Have you all seen this VacuBrew all grain system from MoreBeer? It looks like an interesting concept. It's a closed system where wort gets pushed or pulled around by pressure.

From their website: http://morebeer.com/view_product/9115/1 ... ing_System

VacuBrew All-Grain Brewing System
Vacbrkit1

The Vacubrew System is a complete all grain brewing system that allows you to upgrade to All Grain brewing without the need for expensive pumps or large stands. Best of all, no more lifting heavy kettles full of hot liquids - let the vacuum do the work! We are excited to be the very first company to offer the VacuBrew - a complete, easy-to-use all-grain system for under $500!

How it Works
The innovative VacuBrew All Grain Brewing System uses a vacuum pump to move liquid from one vessel to the next. The kettles are modified with clamps, special gaskets and custom stoppers to be airtight so that they can hold a vacuum. Perform the mash as usual, and when you are ready to sparge, attach the lids to the kettles and connect the small vacuum pump. The pump draws liquid from the Hot Liquor Tank into the Mash Tun for the sparging process, and then into the Boil Kettle. Once the Boil Kettle is full remove the special gasketed lid and perform a standard boil. Then post boil, replace the lid and use the vacuum pump to draw liquid through the special Wort Chiller and right into your carboy! (Please Note: we recommend using a glass carboy or a stainless fermenter ONLY with the VacuBrew. Do not use a plastic bucket, plastic carboy, or anything else that cannot handle heat. These plastic fermenters have been know to shrivel and shrink if the wort transfers over at too hot a temperature, spewing hot wort all over the place.)

Designed by a MoreBeer! customer, this kit has been extensively tested by our own Jesse Warren, an award winning brewer, for over a year. Jesse also owns a BrewSculpture but uses this system for brewing after work because it's quick and easy. "The VacuBrew is an extremely fast way to brew all grain. I love it because I can brew in my kitchen at night."

Please note: Because the kettles are physically modified in our fabrication shop for the vacuum brewing process we are not able to sell you parts to convert your existing kettles into a VacuBrew.

System Includes:
MoreBeer! Heavy Duty 8 Gallon Brew Kettle
MoreBeer! Heavy Duty 8 Gallon Mash Tun
5 Gallon Hot Liquor Tank
VacuBrew Wort Chiller
Vacuum Pump
Custom Lid Gaskets, Stoppers and all other necessary hardware
Directions with pictures
Support from both MoreBeer! and the inventor

Some people have asked me for the parts list for my cooler mash tun.
Try this link: http://www.ovha.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=583 (scroll down)

Attention Barley Crusher owners:
I was having problems getting my Barley Crusher to start crushing. I noticed the non-powered roller wouldn't spin as freely as it once did. After disassembling the mill, I noticed there was a build up of compacted grain dust on the ends of the rollers. After a good cleaning, it is working like new again.
Note: If you disassemble the mill, you should check the gap between the rollers with a feeler gauge. Although the factory setting of .039 works great for me, some users are claiming good results (higher efficiency with no stuck mashes) by closing the gap to .030 (the width of a credit card)

????????????????

http://brewballstore.com/index.html

If they were marketed by Joe's Crab Shack everyone would have a shirt that reads:
Got Balls?

john mills wrote:If they were marketed by Joe's Crab Shack everyone would have a shirt that reads:
Got Balls?

Too late it's already taken.
http://www.zazzle.com/got_balls_bowling ... 5695061643
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... balls.html
http://www.last.fm/music/AC%252FDC/_/She's+Got+Balls
http://www.insidesocal.com/theshadow/20 ... balls.html
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=62978798
http://www.break.com/pictures/this-guys ... 92297.html

Pretty cool pictures of different brew setups: http://www.brewzilla.nl/?brewhalla

BoilerMaker AutoSparge (Blichmann)
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_i ... s_id=12250

I just borrow the float from my toilet during the sparge .